Tag Archives: baked

I thought bacon birthday cake would be appropriate for RipleyPickles’ day of birth. You may want to consider drizzling one of the Chef’s sauces over it as well for extra nummy-ness….
Here is a recipe for Bacon Cream Cheese Frosting, feel free to use your own chocolate cake or cupcake recipe with it. Happy Birthday!! -ts

Other than as side dishes on some high-falutin* Cooking Channel shows, I had no experience with baby carrots until I bought them on my last trip to the Whitton Farms stand at the Memphis Farmers Market 2 weeks ago. Obviously, I had to purchase them because I purchase anything tiny or orange (Go Vols!), but I was delighted to find out that they are not only cute as crap but really freaking tasty too.

The Chef gave these a good olive oil and herb bath and roasted them until they were like little bite-sized candies. Cooking them at this high temp makes every bit of them soft, right down to their little green hats.

3 bunches of baby carrots
salt and pepper to taste
1.5 tbsp chopped herbs (sage and rosemary are great choices and they make the house smell amazing)
olive oil

Preheat oven to 400.

Toss carrot with oil, then salt and pepper, then herbs.

Roast for 20 minutes.

Eat with your hands. So much more fun that way.

*Many thanks to Carly whose blog came up first when I googled “What does the word falutin’ mean?” It does my heart good to know that the pressing Google issues I face are being taken care of by people who I already know.

This is not a picture of the actual boat, but it gives you the gist. Pic coming post haste.

Whenever I mention this to The Chef, he looks slightly befuddled and a little grossed out (I think the term “boat” evokes images of cruise ships and buffet lines or something). In my ever-present quest to prove him wrong, I am making him breakfast for dinner tonight, and this is on the menu.

Big D has been making this for years, and it is always quickly devoured. My dad actually once delivered one to my cousin’s house, and her husband (who is kept on a tight-but-healthy regimen) answered the door. He ate the whole thing by himself as though it were an actual 1-person sized sandwich. That is hilariously fat to the adorable power.

Remove most of the bread from the inside of the loaf, leaving an inch or so around the outside (the crust and a little bit of bread cushion is the main event here, so as long as you leave those, you’re golden).

Cook sausage, onion, pepper and mushrooms. Drain.

Return to skillet and add Worcestershire, mustard and seasoning. Add cheese and mix. (This is yet another recipe like Big D’s Breakfast Casserole where the more you experiment, the better it gets. Different kinds of cheese, spices and veggies are super fun in here. Live a little.)

Stuff “boat” with sausage mixture, cover with foil and bake just until crusty and heated through (20 minutes).

Slice and scarf. And drop a slice by my cousin’s house.

Sidenote: If you have any leftover filling, it’s stupid good on chips, perhaps even mixed with a little cream cheese for dipping. I know, I KNOW, cream cheese/dip fixation. Work out your own issues first before you come at me, OK? You’re not my real dad anyway.

As I spent my Easter Sunday watching 12 hours of deliciously ridiculous docudrama programming about William & Kate (thanks Lifetime!), I started thinking that we needed a recipe for some dainty finger food for those of you who are planning Royal Wedding Watch Parties.

So I started discussing options with Carol, the resident guru of all things Will-and-Kate, and guess what? I hate English food. Or what I think is English food. Cucumber sandwiches, scones, crumpets, that nasty banana flan People magazine is pushing as Wills’ favorite dessert. All of it sounds like a big gray pile of Yick to me.

So we’re going rogue here. Or we’re going Big D, rather, with a recipe from the brunch mistress herself, Dot Akin. These are perfect little packets of fat-and-happy, and I can think of nothing better to snack on while you try to cope with the fact that you’re not becoming a princess and this is not the most special day of your life. Cinnamon and sugar do quite a bit to take the sting out of being a commoner. Cheerio!

If you have never had the pleasure of anything Boar’s Head, I must suggest you get your butt up to (preferably the new awesome) Kroger (by the Racquet Club) and purchase something immediately. All of their stuff is good, but their Horseradish Cheddar is simply to die.

It makes a great sandwich, but the Thanksgiving I decided to unnecessarily carbo-load my family with 3 different kinds of mac n cheese, it also made for a great cheese sauce. You could actually even add bacon to this and make it the main attraction. Nobody’d be mad. Just sayin’.

While no one is grading me on keeping up with the posts to this blog during my time of extreme grad-school-related mental distress, I do not want to anger The Tanya lest she dump this blog for a newer, younger, sexier version. And then all you people would be left with is basic American appetizers. And soup.

———–

So, in an effort to show Nads I have not abandoned this blog for another, consider this is an appetizer appeaser. I have not had this recipe yet, but The Chef drools when he talks about it, so it’s gotta be a winner. And if Bonnie’s artichoke dip is any indication, it is. Observe:

Rolfes used to make this all the time in college, and it’s a hot, easy, always-devoured dip that doesn’t miss. I like to throw in a little cayenne pepper to keep things spicy, but it’s just as good old school.

——————————-

2 cans of artichoke hearts

1 cup mayo

1 cup parmesan cheese

——————-

Preheat oven to 350.

Drain artichoke hearts. Coarsely chop.

Mix all ingredients. Put in a baking dish and top with a little extra parm.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with frito scoops or assorted crackers, and get your hands out of the way. I’ve seen people become violent over this at many a Nashville Supper Club. And to that I say “Well done, ladies!” Miss Hutchison would be so proud, may she rest.